I’m a news junkie. I
cruise multiple websites often looking for what’s going on in the world. I almost never watch TV news, and these days
almost never read a newspaper, although I still like them, especially when I’m
traveling. But the local paper is a
Gannett clone and not worth the time or expense, and the web just makes it too
easy to gather information without wasting trees. I scan a variety of news sources from a
variety of viewpoints. My usual sources
include CNN, FoxNews, The Oregonian, The Wall Street Journal, and for a bit
more of an international perspective, Reuters.
My sports fix is usually Sports Illustrated, especially Peter King and
Don Banks for NFL coverage.
But my favorite source is The Week magazine. Published, as the name implies, weekly, The
Week reports a striking variety of articles on business, politics, economics,
entertainment, and life interest stories.
Its format is simple: Take an issue; briefly explain it; give multiple
(usually) opposing viewpoints; let readers make up their own minds whose
arguments they find compelling. While I
(not surprisingly) usually side with more conservative commentators, I like
hearing what the “other side” has to say, if only to confirm that I disagree
with them. But occasionally I’m confronted
with a compelling argument from a liberal viewpoint, like gay marriage. Or I’m struck by the weakness of a
conservative argument, like direct reductions in food stamp benefits to needy
families. In either case, I believe it
is healthy and desirable to know what people are saying, particularly those who
disagree with you, and to be able to defend or amend your own arguments when
confronted with well-reasoned discussions.
The Week doesn’t always present those; sometimes the commentators quoted
are partisan hacks; but they’re always informative and entertaining. And their website is mostly available to
non-subscribers. I highly recommend it
to anyone who doesn’t like their news too sanitized. The death of civil discourse in this country
is tragic, and sources like The Week are a step toward stemming the tide of
partisan rancor and arrogant ignorance.
What’s your favorite news source?
“The greatest argument against democracy is a five minute
conversation with the average voter.” – Winston Churchill
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